Ceilings don't often get painted: they aren't in the direct line of sight like a wall and getting to that out of the way place isn't easy without straining your neck and getting paint in your eye. Of course, you could get a scaffold tower, lie down on the plank and paint the ceiling the lazy way, but you will get completely covered in paint as well!  The best piece of equipment for painting ceilings is a tall step ladder.  An eight-tread model works perfectly as the platform height is usually perfect for resting a paint bucket or roller tray on and the levels of the steps mean there is one suitable for people of all heights to reach the ceiling.  If you're thinking of painting the ceiling, investing in a tall step ladder and the materials will probably work out cheaper than paying someone to do it. The Youngman 8 tread platform step-ladder is ideal for DIY decorating jobs and should be your first option for painting that ceiling.  Costing just £65 including VAT and delivery, the low price of this model means that even with the cost of materials and painting equipment, you can get the job done for under £100.  If you're painting kitchen ceilings, which often get discoloured from cooking residues such as fat, it's best to use a kitchen or bathroom suitable paint, as these are resistant to steam and condensation and won't peel or flake under these conditions like conventional emulsion does. The Youngman model has eight treads including the platform, which has a height of 1.64 metres. This means that in most homes, the platform is the ideal height to keep the paint on close to the ceiling, but with enough room to wield a brush or roller.  It has a duty rating of 110 kilos, so is not suitable for people weighing more than this.  Ceiling painting is a time consuming job, so you want to be using a ladder that will feel sturdy while you're up there and that will take the weight and regular moving around.  There are safety straps between the rungs and swing back feature on all models above four-tread height, so this will brace the step-ladder effectively while it is in use.  As long as weight isn't a problem, this eight-tread step ladder is perfect for the task.

Lyte Step Ladders

Lyte make an eight-tread platform step ladder that is built for medium duty use and therefore more sturdy compared to the Youngman model (which is rated for normal trade use, rather than anything more rigorous).  The extra stability afforded by the double riveted treads and the duty rating of 130 kilos (maximum load 175 kilos) means that for tricky tasks such as ceiling painting, the Lyte model s more suitable especially for those with little experience of using a ladder.  It costs £89 including VAT and delivery, so it is slightly more expensive than the Youngman model, but will take more regular use.  If you intend to repaint all the ceilings in your home this model is up to the job.  The platform height is 1.67 metres, slightly taller than the Youngman model, but not noticeably so.  It weights 7.25 kilos, which is a little more than the 6.5 kilos of the Youngman model, but you would expect this as the Lyte model has a stronger construction.  The treads are 3in deep so they provide a more comfortable standing surface, a factor that is important when choosing a ladder for a task such as ceiling painting.  This model has heavy duty locking side stays, more stable than the straps featured on the Youngman model, and the high handrail, non slip feet and extra high handrail all set this Lyte model apart as ideally suited for ceiling painting.

Heavy Duty Platform Steps

For homes with taller ceilings or for large properties where the repainting is a big undertaking, the Titan eight-tread heavy-duty platform steps are a good choice. A platform height of 1.95 metres means that the handrail may be too tall for the ceiling in conventional homes, but for properties with high ceilings, this model is just the ticket.  This extra height on the platform makes it a much better choice for this type of property than the previous two models we have looked at, because the platform (where the paint will sit) is that much closer to the ceiling.  The Titan model costs £110 including VAT and delivery, but you get much more ladder for your money.  This heavy-duty step ladder is designed with regular use in mind, and is designed with the professional market in mind.  The treads are spaced more widely apart than the other models so are better suited to those who are comfortable climbing ladders.  People with little experience may find this step ladder uncomfortable to climb.  It weighs 10.9 kilos, about the same as a sack of potatoes.  It is quite big and could be unwieldy for some people to carry due to the height and weight. It will take a load of up to 175 kilos, so it is certainly built for a big ceiling repainting project where extra height for tall ceilings is needed.

Abru Industrial Ladders

For £10 more, the Abru Promaster Industrial platform step ladder with eight treads provides more security with a handrail on either side of the stiles that extend all the way to the top. This makes them safer to climb and gives you somewhere else to comfortably hold on to while you work.  These steps have a platform height of 1.73 metres, in between the Titan and Lyte models, and weigh 10.3 kilos.  Metal locking side braces give stability to the structure while in use, and the three cross bars on the back side also provide rigidity.  They are designed for heavy industrial use, so are as sturdy as the Titan model but slightly more user friendly for the inexperienced.  Again, this step ladder is a better buy for people who intend to get a lot of use out of it, so if the ceiling painting is the only project you need a ladder for, it would make more sense to spend less money.  However, these steps are a great investment for anyone not confident using a ladder, or anyone who would need a tall step ladder for other projects.  Professionals should think about investing in this step ladder for work, as it is certified for use on industrial sites, well built, safe and comfortable, and will last a long time. Other step ladder models that do not have the platform also tend not to have a handrail above the platform.  Because this type of step-ladder is not so well suited to ceiling painting (you need the platform to rest the paint on, and the handrail for the stability) we won't look at this type of step ladder for ceiling painting. Lastly, although not technically an eight-tread platform step ladder, the Little Giant Select Step can be exactly the model you are looking for.  Extendable legs mean that even though the ladder comes as a five-tread step ladder, it can be extended to have eight treads (right up to ten) and the handrail that comes out of the top provides the support you need that a regular step ladder does not provide.  The Little Giant Select Step is supplied with the Airdeck tool tray that can hold your paint and it will also function very well in 23 other configurations, meaning you never need to buy another ladder; this one does it all!  The platform can be set at heights between 80 cm and 1.6 metres, making it adaptable for all jobs, not just ceiling painting.  10 cm deep treads make it easy and comfortable to climb and work on, and give the inexperienced user a sense of stability.  It will take a load of up to 150 kilos and weighs only 12 kilos itself.  However, it is not unwieldy to move as the patented Tip n Glide wheels allow it to be wheeled easily around the home.  At £195 including VAT and delivery it is the most expensive of the options, but when you consider it can also be used as a straight/extension ladder, stairway ladder and many more, it becomes a good investment. Depending on the size of your project, there is a ladder to suit you.  One off repainting jobs can be done with the Youngman trade step ladder, whereas more heavy duty and industrial scale ceiling painting is a breeze with the Abru or Titan models.  The serious DIYer should consider the Little Giant model to be an investment, as it will work for all manner of household renovations, but the Lyte model seems to be the one that will work for everyone and at a good price too. If you're still unsure about the best equipment for your ceiling repainting job then give the team a call and we'll go through your options.